Portman's support for gay marriage ripples through GOP

1:38 AM,
Mar. 16, 2013

Sen. Rob Portman

Written by

Deirdre Shesgreen
Gannett

Sen. Rob Portman dropped a political bomb this week, and the fallout still is shrouded by plumes of politically and emotionally charged reactions to the Ohio Republican's embrace of same-sex marriage.

Some said Portman's national ambitions were done for, and he even could lose his grip on his U.S. Senate seat. Others said his support for same-sex marriage wouldn't hurt him at all - and it could even make him a stronger political candidate.

Some predicted Portman's embrace would be a watershed moment for the Republican Party on gay rights. Others said it wouldn't budge the GOP an inch. ...